The next day I went to my job interview. I had a good feeling about it, they seemed really nice and I had spent all morning googling what I felt like was good to know, I couldn't have been any more prepared.

„ I am here for a job interview“ I told the woman behind the desk. „3rd floor, second door on the left“ She told me without any enthusiasm, as if she had said that sentence tons of times already today. It was a surprisingly big company. They needed someone to enter data for them, no experience necessary. It‘s paid minimum wage, which is actually higher in Australia than I expected.

„Come on in“ The room was small, it seemed very old fashioned. In the middle was a small desk, an old man sitting in front of it. „Name?“ He asked. „Lilli Meyer“ „Okay. Tell me about yourself“ He wasn‘t exactly friendly. He was close to the opposite of that. Quite frankly he seemed like he was given this task when there wasn‘t anything he would have liked to do less.

I could tell he wasn‘t impressed with me. I really tried to make myself seem interesting and like the employee they are looking for but apperantely I failed at that.

Just three minutes after entering the room I was told they would get back to me if they would like to hire me. As I was leaving I already saw the next applicant waiting. I wonder how many they have.

Although I was a little frustrated I decided to not let this ruin my day and spend my time in the city centre, yet again. I walked by a little ice cream shop. A treat was excatly what I needed now. As the lady was preparing my chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, an idea popped into my mind.

„You don‘t happen to be looking for an employee, do you?“

„Sorry, love, absolutely not. We can‘t afford that. In general the job market in the city is not great for young backpackers like you looking for jobs. There is so many of you and not many suitable jobs. Sorry. Enjoy your ice cream, hun. I put extra sprinkles on it“

I thanked the lady and left the shop.

That day I asked in a few more shops if they could need some help. None of them said yes.

I had a few savings and they were enough to get me through a few weeks, perhaps even a couple months if I started saving more and spending less on drinks, food and clothes. But eventually I would have to get a job. Also, Perth was meant to only be the starting point. I wanted to see all of the country. Well maybe not all as it is giant, but lots of it, not just one part.

To travel though you need money. Money I don‘t have if I can‘t find a job.

When it was already dark outside and most people had finished cooking I went to the kitchen. I had bought some pasta and ready-made tomato sauce. I was not a great cook plus this meal was cheap.

I hoped to see Maia again, like the first night.

She did not show up though. I ate slowly and sat their for a few minutes in silence before washing up, purposely taking extra long to do so, nevertheless I didn‘t see her.

The next morning I woke up quite early because some of the people in my room were making noise. I wanted to turn around and try to fall asleep again but I didn‘t manage to. Instead I got up and made the decision to start the day with some breakfast before thinking about what I would do today.

I was suprised to see Maia and Olivia in the kitchen.

When my toast was ready I went over to them and sat down next to Maia.

„Hi, how are you?“ I greeted the two of them.

„I am good, I am enjoying my last day here“ Olivia said. „Wait- it‘s your last day?“ I asked. She nodded. „Yeah I am flying to Melbourne tonight“

„It‘s going to be so weird without you“ Maia told her. I remembered that they have travelled together for 3 months, being around each other every day. It must be really weird to be seperated after all that.

„Anyways we gotta go. Maybe I will see you tonight though, after I dropped Olivia off?“ She asked me. I tried to hide my excitement when she did. Of course I want to hang out with her!

I spent my day exploring the local area. There wasn‘t much, nothing of particular interest. I thought about going to the beach but the way there was too long for me today. Instead I read in the hammock for a while, talked to my mom and sorted out the clothes in my bag which was probably long overdue.

Maia and I went on a little walk. She had told me that she wanted to show me a lovely spot close by. It was almost dark, the sun had already gone down. A few stars and the moon were shining on the sky.

„ Do you miss Olivia?“ I asked her. „Yes“ She answered. „It‘s weird without her.“

„What are you going to do?“ „I don‘t know. I have been thinking about buying an old car and going up north. It‘s meant to be beautiful plus in the rural areas there is usually more jobs available.

„Yeah right now there don‘t seem to be a lot of jobs available here. I have been looking for one with no luck“ I mentioned my experience at the job interview earlier, we both laughed at it.

Then we reached the spot Maia had been talking about. It‘s a small park with a tiny water fountain. The stars were clearly visible on the sky, it was beautiful.

We looked at each other in silence, smiled at the other.

Suddenly she interrupted the silence:

„You know what, I know it sounds super crazy….but what if we buy that car together and go up north. Travel, explore and find a job somewhere“